Guest introduces all members of the murdered Norbois family in the novel prior to the slayings so that the readers have some idea of who and what they were prior to their deaths. Hugh DeWitt is the fictitious sheriff, “a laconic, laidback guy,” and Guest admits to “falling in love with” him and his family, so much even that DeWitt will also be the protagonist in her next novel, already over 150 pages and counting, to be published when finished. Her research was extensive and she depended a great deal on the help of real life Alcona County Sheriff Doug Ellinger in order to incorporate correct police procedure in her story. So, she decided to base her fictitious mystery, ”The Tarnished Eye,” on these two events.

She was upset, too, with the concurrent rapes and serial killings happening in Ann Arbor. Living in Detroit at the time (1968) of the Robison killings in Good Hart, Michigan, she was fascinated with this horrendous slaughter of an entire family, which is still unsolved. She took the time to converse at length with many of her admiring readers, and also talked with everyone in a group setting explaining background for her fiction. Guest proved to be a warm, chatty, accommodating and unpretentious person, more like native Glen Arborites than the celebrated author that she is. Proving that she has truly arrived as a top-notch author, Ms Guest’s name on her new book is printed in larger letters than the book’s title. Guest met, charmed and talked with close to 100 guests who lined up to have her sign their newly purchased books and to add her signature to one or several of her previous books. Bookseller Barbara Siepker arranged for the author’s visit. Judith Guest, author of the bestseller (and movie directed by Robert Redford) “Ordinary People,” has written a new book, “The Tarnished Eye,” and was at the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor on July 2.

Judith guest books